Today’s modern estates are focusing on a family-centred lifestyle, with careful thought being paid to children and their needs, including play areas and even schools. Many estates routinely provide creches, but developers are also increasingly looking at including formal schools.
Many country estates already have their own private schools within the grounds, proving to be a clincher for many buyers. A school attracts investors to the development and increases the capital appreciation of your estate home over the long term, says Clifford Oosthuizen, managing director of the Amdec Group’s Westbrook development in Port Elizabeth.
The estate is home to a Curro school. “On a practical level, parents enjoy the convenience and peace of mind of having a school inside your secure residential development. It also encourages an active lifestyle, where children can walk or cycle to school.”
South Africa is in front in terms of this trend internationally. “There is certainly increasing demand from South African investors for estates linked to premium educational facilities, particularly for families with children of a school-going age,” Oosthuizen says.
Some of these include:
Sitari Country Estate near Somerset West – Curro Sitari.
Clara Anna Fontein Lifestyle Estate in Durbanville – Reddam House Durbanville.
Burgundy Estate in Cape Town – Curro Castle, Zenith Montessori and Riverside College.
Silvertree Estate in Steenberg – a gate leads on to the grounds of Reddam House.
Steyn City in Johannesburg – Steyn City School.
Waterfall Country and Village Lifestyle Estate – Reddam House Waterfall.
Blue Hills Country and Equestrian Estate in Beaulieu in Midrand – Reddford House Blue Hill.
Monaghan Farm in Lanseria – Curro Monaghan.
Reddford House in Pretoria East – children have access to Cornwall Hill College in Irene without having to leave Cornwall Hill Country Estate.
Securing primary and high school placements at quality educational institutions can be a time-consuming and stressful process, which is why secure lifestyle estates with good schools have become so sought-after. “A short school run in an estate is convenient and saves enormously on commuting time.
Buying into a secure lifestyle estate can be an investment in property as well as your children’s education and their future.” In addition to schooling, many estates place more emphasis on stimulating outdoor areas for children, with a recent release from Rainmaker Marketing citing research debunking the myth that clean hands are better for children’s health.
A study conducted by the University of Colorado shows soil bacteria is “crucial” to helping children develop an immune system. “The study demonstrated a link between soil exposure, farm-type environments, a strong immune system and a lowered risk of mental illness. It draws a comparison between children who are raised in farm-type or rural environments surrounded by animals and what they term ‘city-dwellers’. Interestingly they highlight exposure to animals as being valuable as well.”
Buyers and property developers are realising the importance of rearing children in an environment with opportunity to engage with nature and be outdoors, says Mike Graham, developer of Springvale Country Estate on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast.
“Our buyers are actively choosing Springvale because it offers a unique lifestyle not found on the north coast. “You can live on your large plot with up to four large dogs, have chickens, ducks and your dream garden, whether that’s a veggie plot or rose bushes.”